A demonstration to shut down Guantanamo was held in front of the United States Mission to the United Nations Monday morning. Today, June 26, is set aside as the U.N. Day in Support of Torture Victims and Survivors, and the demonstrators made clear that they stand in support of such a day. However, they do not stand in support of a hypocritical government that is celebrating this day while at the same time holding prisoners in extremely inhumane conditions at Guantanamo, Cuba. 25 members of the group sat down in front of the U.N. Mission, blocking its doors and saying they would stay until the international consensus against these illegal acts is respected, heard and acted upon.|| More Coverage || Movie Review: The Road to Guantanamo

A demonstration to shut down Guantanamo was held in front of the United States Mission to the United Nations this morning. Today, June 26, is set aside as the U.N. Day in Support of Torture Victims and Survivors, and the demonstrators made clear that they stand in support of such a day. However, they do not stand in support of a hypocritical government that is celebrating this day while at the same time holding prisoners in extremely inhumane conditions at Guantanamo.

More than 60 people attended the demonstration, carrying signs that read “Shut Down Guantanamo!” In addition there were men in orange suits with black cloth covering their faces including one man in a large cage, made to signify the mistreatment of the prisoners at Guantanamo.

In attendance were priests, rabbis, nuns, professors and human rights activists, many of whom spoke at the press conference held by a group called Witness Against Torture, a Campaign to Shut Down Guantanamo which began in December when 25 American Catholics walked to visit the prisoners in Guantanamo. The press conference was a chance for these people, one of whom was the nephew of a prisoner at Guantanamo, to speak directly to Ambassador John Bolton, asking him to take action and demand the shut down of Guantanamo.

Emotional stories were shared about people trying to end their lives do to the horrible conditions at in the prison, in hopes that more people will become aware of the violence committed against the prisoners, many of whom do not even have any ability to communicate with the outside world, including their families, and 94% of whom the government only presumes are guilty with no concrete evidence.

Following the press conference, 25 members of the group sat down in front of the U.N. Mission, blocking its doors and saying they “would stay until the international consensus against these illegal acts is respected, heard and acted upon.” www.witnesstorture.org/node/330 Few minutes passed until the police read the protestors their rights and then proceeded to arrest them for blocking a pedestrian path.

Hopefully the group's message was heard today, and if not, it is certain that this is not the last time they will come knocking at the U.N.'s doors. Not until justice is brought to Guantanamo will the group stop protesting for the prisoners being held unjustly in horrible conditions.

I am proud of you all... and to the man holding the Veteran for Peace flag I have a picture of me and you on my refrigerator from the R.N.C. week during a poetry slam on Cherry Hill in Central Park and I saw you in front of the White House on Sept 29 th when I was with Breasts Not Bombs and then again in the march on April 29 in New York ...good to see your face again....good for all of you ...keep it up! Shut It Down!,peace,MJ Cleveland, Ohio

rock on

Jun 30, 2006 12:27PM EDT

katie

i was arrested protesting guantanamo and held in a holding cell for seven hours. it was a great event and a great group of people to do it with-i was in a cell with an 87 year old woman, frances crowe, who was an inspiration in so many ways. and what an issue to have been arrested for-with the supreme court ruling and all. these are exciting and charged times...

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